Scenes from a very filled weekend

First off can I just say I love my hubs, and all his random acts of silliness. I was cracking up when I saw he not only hacked into my blog but posted about it all over my other social media accounts as well. I heart him.

This weekend was an emotional one for me. Besides having Vernon kick off the weekend with vomiting and a very high fever I was still recovering from all my own sickness, was overwhelmed with the fact that I was speaking at my first conference and I turned thirty so you know, it was a big weekend for sure. Throw in a concert and a surprise gift from Micah and that just about did me in. I was so blessed by this weekend's events and by all the love from family and friends as I celebrated my Golden Birthday. 

I was just going to post pics but thought I'd give you a bit of the low down first. 

Friday night: Alissa treated me to a birthday pedi and spoiled me with some awesome gif ties! Shan was there to celebrate too because she spent the night. (she lives an hour + away and was accompanying me for support to the conference Sat morn)

After our pedicures we grabbed some pumpkin spice goodness to sip on as we shopped Anthro and giggled the night away. Just what I needed after such a long week and to help take my mind off of what lied ahead. (yes I was very stressed about the conference so a girls night out was what I needed to help ease my anxiety a bit)

 apparently I get crazy eyes when I'm excited about something

 I'm playing with my gifts while getting my toes did.

(Shan's face cracks me up in the background)

swag bags!

 Alissa and I before the conference and if you look real close I think you can see stress sweat dripping off from both of us. 

she totally rocked her session!

Saturday: Penelope Lane Mini blog conference slash Boutique. I woke up excited and couldn't wait to get the day started. We had so much fun listening to Alissa kick of the conference with a bang as she shared about Finding your voice when working with brands. She did an amazing job and I learned so much from her while being inspired all at the same time. 

Right after she spoke my nerves kicked in and was starting to think I should plan an exit strategy quick if I was going to bail on this thing.

Thank God for Shan being there to calm my nerves. After Alissa spoke and my perspiring increased, Shan suggested that we should go take some time to breathe and shop the boutique. Since I was the last speaker of the day we had some time to regroup my thoughts and pray. After shopping a bit we stopped by the photo booth for some fun! I was so happy to have Shan with me reminding me that I could do it and that God was in control.

I loved walking around and seeing so many familiar faces and meeting ones I had only seen from behind the screen of my computer. Making those real life connections are so sweet. I was ridiculously blessed that Kimmie from Sugar & Dots was there for the conference and I just about cried when I saw her. She holds a special place in my heart because she reached out to me when I was just a little blogger. She helped shape me into the blogger I'm becoming and is also a huge factor of why my shop was even formed and for that I love this beautiful girl. Her heart is just so big, I just wanted to squeeze her face off!

look at her and sweet baby Franky!

here's my worksheet sweet Molly designed for my big day

 yes I'm part Italian and yes I talk with my hands... a lot

 see how much calmer we look after we spoke, just sticky from the sweat and nerves is all

 Sarah who runs the Penelope Lane Boutiques and this Mini Blog Conference is one of the sweetest and kindest souls I've ever met. I was so happy to be part of this amazing day she put together. 

I can't tell you how I did because I barely kept it together and felt like I was emotional throughout the whole workshop. I didn't flub my words and didn't even glance at my index cheat cards but I also can't remember what I said. I was just happy that I finished without fainting and that the group I spoke to was amazing. 
Such warm hearts who cried when I cried and laughed when I did. I wanted to hug each and every one of those girls to thank them for letting me share a bit of my story with them. I was blessed by all of their hugs and feedback afterwards, not to mention all the emails I received from many who attended. I'm still not quite sure why God had me speak at this event but I can see some things in His plan start to unfold. Just writing that out makes me emotional, knowing where I was even a year ago and how far He has brought me since brings instant tears to my eyes. 

You would think after a long day I would just go home and crash because that is what my body was pleading with me to do. After all the adrenaline had left me so did the pep in my step. 

But Micah had got us awesome tickets to see The Gaslight Anthem and Rise Against at the Honda Center for my birthday so we were off like two kids again at a show rocking the night away!

Sunday: (my actual birthday) After looking through the pictures I realized it was a very Californian way of celebrating! Beach in the morning, In & Out Burger for lunch and then topping off the night with the Happiest Place on Earth, how much more SoCal could I get?

Elsie wanted to wear this all weekend saying it was her fairy birthday outfit

As if my weekend couldn't have gotten any more awesome Micah surprised me with a special gift he had been working on. 
I was getting ready in the bathroom while the babies were sleeping and so the house was quiet until I heard the theme song to "The Wonder Years" I was instantly intrigued by that and walked into the living room to see a special birthday video that he had put together for me displayed on the TV. I would love to share it with all of you but decided against it and I'll tell you why.
1. It is sixteen + minutes long
2. Micah is ridiculous and if you don't know him and his humor you might just think he's nuts
3. It's very personal and I wept through the whole thing. (Like snot dripping, tears everywhere wept)
4. I wasn't sure if those who were part of it would want the world to see it

But if you really want to see shoot me an email and I might send you the link ;)

Hope you all had a fabulous weekend!

speaking

You know back when I was younger, like elementary age younger, and even younger than that I've always been a "talker".
Like the girl who never had a problem speaking whether it was out of turn or not. I can remember every report card stating that I "socialized too much" which was the teachers polite way of saying, "your girl doesn't ever stop talking."

I wasn't just a talker amongst my friends, I was also the girl who did announcements over the school intercom during my elementary years and was the designated speaker for the dedication of the school (news cameras and everything were there)
I was confident and loved getting up to do things like that. I was the one who looked forward to sharing my book reports in front of the class or first to raise my hand if ever there was a speaking opportunity.
If you've followed my blog or if you know me in person then you would know that my life took had a turn of events when I was about 11 years old. I talked about that here on Why I Give.
Those same life changing occurrences also changed the course of me and my "speaking out"

I was no longer confident. More like insecure and feared rejection more than anything since I had no idea what to expect from life any more. I was ashamed of my families situation and kept very quiet about my personal life which in return left me quieter all together. 
Though I lost all ability to speak in front of people, I still remained very social and always have been. Heck, all growing up no one even knew I was dealing with such hard stuff because I put on a happy face to match my bubbly "faux" disposition and never let anyone in on how scared and insecure I really was.

Like I said I am still very outgoing, not shy in the slightest and could talk your ear off about anything really, finding a great deal, flea market shopping, pastries, Arrested Development episodes, my babies, my husband, my faith. But getting up to speak in front of a group of people about any of those things is a completely different story.

I am very transparent on my blog, I write how I talk and talk about what I am feeling. (most of the time) No matter if my heart was over joyed or I was recovering from a hard day, I most likely will share it. That being said there are some really personal things I haven't shared on this little space of mine, and only touched on how this past year was the hardest years ever of my life. 

I have seen God do a mighty work on reframing the way I think and has slowly started to build me back up in being fully and confidently rooted in Him. 
In the last couple months I have been asked to "speak" at different events. An opportunity at church to speak in front of a hundred plus women, a networking meeting to share about Sole Hope and then most recently I was asked to be a guest speaker at the Penelope Lane Boutique Mini Blog Conference. 

None of these opportunities were exactly what I thought the Lord had in mind when I felt the stirring in my heart about speaking a few months ago. Actually, nothing like what I had in mind. I do know that God has a plan for me and I'm seeking to follow through with what he is laying out for me, even if I feel I don't deserve it or am inadequately fit to do so.

Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you", declares the Lord, "plans to prosper and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." 

So though I'm a wee bit nervous to speak I know this is a stepping stone on the path God is leading me on. Though butterflies are fluttering throughout me, I'm every bit as excited to skip to each stone that surprisingly springs up on this path laid out before me.

So with all that being said, I'm honored and ever so humbled in the fact that I will be a speaker at this Mini Blog Conference. The whole day event is going to be so fun! Check out the website for the conference here more info on the event and to see what topic the other speakers and I will be speaking on. 

A day of shopping in Seal Beach with the opportunity to attend workshops of your choice??! Super rad right?
I hope you'll join me and the rest of these fab speakers at the end of September, it will be such a fun filled day, and even if you don't attend mine or any of the other classes a hug and moral support while we grab some coffee and shop the boutique will be just as nice. 

A total side note: This event takes place on my birthday weekend. Not any birthday but the BIG THREE OH! Say whaaaa??!! So I'll bring the Cannoli's you bring the candles and let's celebrate here at the event together!!

Also, please be praying for me as I prepare for my workshop. Though I know my topic and the main idea of what I'm speaking on, I really have a lot to prep for and would truly covet your prayers!

Oh and don't forget to enter the Awesome August Group Giveaway! 

(can you believe it's already September...)

Thanks and Happy Friday All!